Vehicle safety signal



May 29, 1962 w. wElGl. 3,037,188

VEHICLE SAFETY SIGNAL Filed Nov. 12, 1958 Z8 FEI7/EPSE- SPV/TCH HJM MJ?!United States Patent 3,037,188 Patented May 29, 1962 tice 3,037,188VEHICLE SAFETY SIGNAL William Weigl, 4328 Wyatt Road, Cleveland 28, OhioFiled Nov. 12, 1958, Ser. No. 773,483 Claims. (Cl. S40-91) Thisinvention relates generally to safety signals for automotive vehicles,and in particular to a visual dashing signal indicating that theoperator is driving or about to drive the vehicle in reverse.

Numerous types of audible signals are known which operate to warn aperson at the rear of a vehicle that the vehicle is moving o r about tomove in reverse. While these signals serve `adequately as ya warning tothose in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle, they are ineffectual asa warning to persons some distance away, for example, in anotherapproaching vehicle. Back-up lights on a vehicle solve this latterproblem in part, but being white light, and being continuous light, theyare practically unnoticeable in daylight.

Another problem the audible signals fail to solve is the backing of twoautos into each other. This has become quite commonplace in hugesupermarket parking areas where angle parking has been instituted. Tomake best advantage of space, most such lots are laid out with alternateone-way narrow aisles and parking at an angle on each side of the aisle.When backing out of a parking space, the movement of your car oftenmakes it difcult to notice someone backing toward you. The identicalproblem is present when backing out from a driveway which is exactlyopposite anothers drive on the other side of the street.

The present invention aims at a solution to these problems by utilizingan already well-recognized danger or safety signal to warn that a partyin another vehicle is either backing up, or about to do so. lt isaccomplished by hashing both of the red brake lights together in themanner in which emergency, police, and other vehicles now iiash thelights to indicatae an emergency stop.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a hashing light atthe rear of an automotive vehicle when the vehicle is moving or about tobe moved in reverse.

Another object of the invention is to operate such a ilashing light froma means for conditioning the vehicle to be driven in reverse.

A further object of the invention is to utilize standard directionalsignalling means as the flashing back-up signal.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to utilize Iboth ofa pair of directional signal lights as a back-up warning signal, and tocontrol the operation of both lights from a means for operating thevehicle in reverse.

It is another object of the invention to provide means indicating leftturn, right turn, and 'back-up signals by utilizing a pair of lamps ateach the front and rear of the vehicle, with means for detecting which,if any, of the lamps is burned out by a simple operation of a selectorswitch for the signals.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an immediate warningto an operator that one of his brake lights has burned out.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription and drawings.

According to the invention, directional ilashing signal lights arecontrolled in the conventional manner from a selector switch having leftturn, neutral, and right turn signal positions, the selector switchhaving the customary contacts which enable both lights to be operated bya brake light switch when in neutral, and that light other than the oneAbeing flashed to be operated by the brake light switch when theselector switch is in one of the other positions. Interposed in thecircuitry to the lamps through the flasher and the brake light switch isanother switch means controlled in response to shifting of the gears toreverse condition, to disconnect the brake light circuit and connectboth lamps to the flasher circuit. When operated in reverse, both lampswill flash, but when operated forward, the directional signalling isaccomplished in its usual manner.

in the drawings:

FlG. l is a schematic wiring diagram showing a first form of theinvention embodied in a conventional directional signal circuit.

FlG. 2 illustrates a second form of the invention in the sameenvironment, but using another' form of control for ashing both lamps.

Referring now to FIG. l, LF, RF, LR, and RR are conventional left front,right front, left rear, and right rear directional signal lampsrespectively. Customarily, the front lamps are covered by white lenses,while the rear lamps are covered by red lenses. A directional signalselector switch lil is provided with the usual stationary contacts andcontact plates 11 and l2 of any desirable type. A llasher 13 which hasthe regular intermittently engaged, make-and-break contacts whenenergized, connects the selector switch 10 to a battery 14 through leads15, 16 and `17. When the Contact plates are in the position shown, noneof the lamps are connected to the flasher circuit. This is the neutralposition of the selector switch 10. When, however, the operator desiresto signal a left turn, he moves a handle (not shown) to the left turnsignal position, and contact plate 11 will move toward plate 12. toconnect a terminal 18 to terminals connected to leads 19 and 20. Thiswill complete `a circuit through the liasher 13 and lamps LF and LR willflash accordingly. When the handle is moved out of the left turn Hsignal position, either automatically by rotation of means connected tothe steering column of the automobile, or manually, the contact plate 11is returned to its original position, and lamps LF and LR willdiscontinue ashing. When the handle is moved to the right turn signalposition, lamps RF and RR will be connected to the flasher circuit insimilar fashion.

Lamps LR and RR also constitute the brake-operated lights which arecontinuously energized when the operator steps on the brake pedal. Abrake-operated light switch 21 connects the battery 14 to lamps LR andRR through the leads 15 and 16, the switch 21, a lead 22, a set ofnormally-closed contacts 23 of a relay coil 24, and leads 2S and 26.When the brake `switch 21 is closed with the selector switch 10 in theneutral condition shown, both lamps LR and RR will operate continuouslythrough the Contact plates 11 and 12 as long as the operator keeps hisfoot on the brake pedal. When the selector switch 10 is in its left turnsignal position with the plate 11 moved toward plate '12, lamps LF andLR will liash as previously described, but lamp RR will get -acontinuous brake signal through lead 26 and contact plate 12 if thebrake switch 21 is closed. The reverse of this is true when the selectorswitch 10 is operated -to signal a right turn. Then, lamps RF and RRwill flash, and LR is connected to the brake light circuit forcontinuous energization as required. Everything thus far described isstandard equipment on all new autos manufactured at this time with theexception of the normally closed contacts 23.

In order to enable the use of this conventional circuitry and apparatusin the usual way when driving forward, and to further enable its use forsignalling that the. auto is being or about to be driven in reverse, Idisconnect the brake light switch 21 from controlling the lamps LR andRR, and connect those lamps to the flasher circuit while the `selectorswitch 10 is in its neutral position. I effect these operations bymoving a gear shift lever (not shown) to reverse condition. In thisfashion, l am able to ash 3 both lamps LR and RR together whenever theauto is being driven in reverse, and I can do these even though theselector switch l@ is in its neutral position.

One means for accomplishing the aforesaid objective is to provide anormally open switch 27 and mount the switch for operation by a lever 28operatively connected in any manner to the gear shift lever of the auto.Switch 27 may, and preferably does, constitute a back-up light switchconnected to a back-up light Z9 through leads 15 and 3G.

Operation of the gear shift to reverse condition will move the lever 2Sclockwise on a shaft 31 to close the switch 27. This of course willprovide back-up light 29 with continuous white light. At the same time,switch 27 connects relay coil 24 to the battery 14 to energize the coil.When this occurs, the normally closed contacts 23 in the brake lightcircuit are opened, and further operation of the brake will beineffectual to operate lamps LR and RR. Simultaneously, a set ofnormally open contacts 32 of relay 24.- are closed, to connect lead 25to the flasher 13 through leads i7 and 33, and the now-closed contacts32. As long as switch 27 remains closed to energize relay coil 24S, bothlamps LR and RR will flash. This continues only while the car has itsgear `shift in reverse. Once it is removed from its reverse condition,the contacts 32 will again open and contacts 23 will again close. Thebrake lights and directional signals will therefore reassume theircustomary forward-driving conditions.

A pilot lamp 34 is connected to the flasher 13 by a lead 35 and willflash either at the selector switch or on the dashboard of the auto.This it will do whenever at least two lamps are operating, consequentlyit will operate when driving forward and signalling for either a rightor left turn, and when driving in reverse when the selector switch is inneutral position. Ordinarily, an operator will never have occasion tohave the selector switch in any position other than neutral when backingup. If, however, he has it in one of the other positions when backingup, no harm will be done. Instead of only the two lamps LR and RRoperating, however, one of the :lamps LF or RF will operate also.

The flasher 13 is preferably of the type shown and described in U.S.Pat. 2,803,811 to E. l. Turney. It is specifically designed to preventoperation of the pilot lamp under certain conditions of the selectorswitch 1f) if one of lamps LF, RF, LR or RR has burned out. It requiresflashing of at least two of these lamps to flash before the pilot lampwill flash. This enables me to easily detect which of these lamps hasburned out, by simply operating the selector switch and the gear shiftlever and watching the pilot lamp 34. For example, by leaving theselector switch 10 in neutral position, the gear shift lever can beoperated to reverse to close the switch 27. lf the pilot lamp flashes,both rear lamps are good. Then, the gear shift lever is moved to somecondition other than reverse, and the selector switch 10 operated firstto signal a left turn and then a right turn. If the pilot lamp fails toflash for one of the turn signals, the corresponding front lamp shouldbe removed and replaced. If one of the rear lamps has burned out, thatcan first be noticed when the pilot lamp does not flash with the car inreverse gear. To detect which one of the LR or RR lamps has burned out,the gears are taken out of reverse, and selector switch 1G is operatedto its left and then right turn signal positions. If the pilot lampflashes only when the left turn signal is desired, it is an indicationthat lamp RR has been burned out. lf the lamp flashes when the rightturn signal is desired, LR rnust be replaced.

It will be readily appreciated that the feature of flashing the pilotlamp while backing up serves still another important function. lf thepilot lamp fails to flash at such time, it is an immediate warning tothe operator that one of his brake lights has hurried out.

In FIG. 2, I show the same idea with a slight varia- 4 tion. I alter theback-up light switch 27a to include also the contacts 23a and 32a whichin FIG. l were operated by the relay 24. The contacts as shown, areadapted to be moved upwardly in response to shifting the gears toreverse. When this is done, switch 27a connects back-up light 29a tobattery 14a; contacts 23a open to prevent the lamp LR and RR from beingenergiZed through brake-operated right switch 21a; and con- 4tacts 32aclose to connect flasher 13a to both of lamps LR and RR. An ignitionswitch 36 lies intermediate the battery 14a and switch 27a. Thisprevents operation of both lamps LR and RR, as well as back-up light29a, if the gear shift is left in reverse when the car is parked.

To enable use of the same circuitry as a safety signal for flashing bothlights during emergency parking, without requiring the ignition switch36 to be closed at the time, a normally open switch 37 and leads 38 and39 may be provided to by-pass the contacts 32a. When switch 37 isclosed, the two rear lights may be flashed even though the cars ignitionis off. If desired, the selector switch 10a can be moved to either itsright or left position, and the corresponding light on the front of thevehicle will also flash.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention.

Having described my invention, I claim:

l. Signal means for an automotive vehicle having a source of electricalenergy and a transmission capable of being selectively shifted betweenforward and reverse driving conditions, and means for shifting saidtransmission from one to the other of said conditions, comprising a lampat the rear of said vehicle, a first electrical circuit connecting saidlamp to the electrical source, intermittently engaged make-and-breakflashing contacts in said circuit, a first normally open switch in saidcircuit, a brake signal circuit connected to said lamp in parallel withthe first circuit, a brake-operated normally open switch in said brakesignal circuit, a normally closed switch in the brake signal circuit,and means operatively connecting the first switch and the normallyclosed switch to the shifting means when the latter is operated to itsreverse driving condition for closing the first switch and for openingthe normally closed switch to disconnect the brake signal circuit fromsaid lamp.

2. The invention set forth in claim l wherein the first normally openswitch and the normally closed switch comprise contacts of a relay whichis energized in response to operation of the shifting means to itsreverse driving condition.

3. The invention set forth in claim 1 wherein the first normally openswitch and the normally closed switch comprise manually operatedcontacts actuated in response to operation of the shifting means.

4. Signal means for an automotive vehicle having a source of electricalenergy, comprising right and left lamps on the rear of said vehicle, aflasher circuit adapted to connect the lamps to the electrical source,manually operated selector switch means in said flasher circuit havingone position for connecting the flasher circuit with the left lamp,another position for connecting the circuit with the right lamp, and aneutral position disconnecting both lamps from the source through theflasher circuit, intermittently engaged make-and-break contacts in theflasher circuit, a brake signal circuit connected to said lamps inparallel with the flasher circuit, a brakeoperated normally open switchin said brake signal circuit, electrical contacts operated by theselector switch means and connecting both lamps to the brake signalcircuit when in neutral position and connecting only the lamp other thanthe one being selectively flashed to the' brake signal circuit when theselector switch is in one of the other positions, means connecting theflasher circuit to the brake circuit including a normally open switch inthe connecting means, a normally closed switch in the brake signalcircuit intermediate the electrical source and the point of connectionof the flasher and brake signal circuits, and means for operating thelast-named normally open and normally closed switches to oppositeconditions whereby both lamps will flash simultaneously whenever theselector switch is in neutral position and the normally open switch isclosed.

5. The invention set forth in claim 4 where the normally open andnormally closed switches comprise contacts of an electrical relay.

6. The invention set forth in claim 4 wherein the normally open andnormally closed switches are manually operable.

7. Signal means for an automotive vehicle having a source of electricalenergy, comprising a pair of lamps at the rear of said vehicle, a firstelectrical circuit adapted to simultaneously connect both of said lampsto the electrical source, intermittently engaged make-and-break flashercontacts `in said circuit, a normally open switch in said circuit, abrake signal circuit connecting the electrical source to said lamps inparallel with the rst circuit, a brake-operated normally open switch insaid brake signal circuit, and means operable in response to placing thevehicle in a `given operating condition for operating the normally openswitch to a closed condition to flash both of said lamps simultaneouslythrough the rst electrical circuit.

8. Signal means for an automotive Vehicle having a source of electricalenergy, comprising right and left lamps on the rear of said vehicle, aflasher circuit yadapted to connect the lamps to the electrical source,manually operated selector switch means in the flasher circuit havingone position for connecting the flasher circuit with the left lamp,another position for connecting the circuit with the right lamp, `and aneutral position disconnecting both lamps from the source through theiiasher circuit, intermittently engaged make-and-break contacts in theflasher circuit, a brake signal circuit connected to said lamps inparallel with the flasher circuit, ya brake-operated normally openswitch in said brake signal circuit, electrical contacts operated by theselector switch means and connecting both lamps to the brake signalcircuit when in neutral position and connecting only the lamp other thanthe one being selectively flashed to the brake signal circuit when theselector switch is in one of the other positions, means connecting theflasher circuit to the brake signal circuit between the brake operatedswitch and said lamps, a normally open switch in the last-namedconnecting means, and means operable in response to placing the vehiclein ya given operating condition for closing the normally open switch toflash both lamps simultaneously with the selector switch in neutralposition.

9. Signal means for an automotive vehicle having a source of electricalenergy and a transmission capable of being selectively shifted betweenforward and reverse driving conditions, and means for shifting saidtransmis- `sion from one to the other of said conditions, comprisingright and left lamps on the rear of said vehicle, a llasher circuitadapted to connect the lamps to the electrical source, manually operatedselector switch means in said llasher circuit having one position forconnecting the flasher circuit with the left lamp, another position forconnecting the circuit with the right lamp, and a neutral positiondisconnecting both lamps from the source through the flasher circuit,intermittently engaged make-and-break contacts in the flasher circuit, abrake signal circuit connected to said lamps in parallel with thetlasher circuit,

a brake-operated normally open switch in said brake signal circuit,electrical contacts operated byl the selector switch means andconnecting both lamps to the brake signal circuit when in neutralposition and connecting the lamp other than the one being selectivelyashed to the brake signal circuit when the selector switch is in one ofthe other positions, means connecting the flasher circuit to the brakecircuit including a normally open switch in the connecting means, anormally closed switch in the brake signal circuit intermediate theelectrical lsource and the point of connection of the flasher and brakesignal circuits, and means operatively connected to the shifting meanswhen shifted to its reverse driving condition for .actuating thenormally open and normally closed switches to opposite conditionswhereby both lamps will flash simultaneously whenever the selectorswitch is in neutral position and the normally open switch is closed.

10. The invention Set forth in claim 9 wherein the normally open andnormally closed switches comprise contacts of an electrical relay.

1l. The invention set forth in claim 9 including right and left lamps atthe front of said vehicle, connections to said front lamps through saidselector switch to flash the left front and rear lamps in unison and theright front and rear lamps in unison, a second set of make-andbreakcontacts, a pilot lamp connected to the such second set of contacts, andmeans controlled by the ilasher circuit for operating said pilot lampmake-and-break contacts only when at least two of the front and rearright and left lamps are energized through the llasher circuit.

12. The invention set forth in claim 9 wherein the normally open andnormally closed switches are manually operated in response to `actuationof the shifting means.

13. Signal means for an automotive vehicle having a source of electricalenergy, comprising a pair of lamps at the rear of said vehicle, a rstelectrical circuit adapted to connect both of said lamps to theelectrical source simultaneously, intermittently engaged make-and-breakflashing contacts in said circuit, a first normally open v switch insaid circuit, a brake signal circuit connected to said lamps in parallelwith the rst circuit, a brake-operated normally open switch in saidbrake signal circuit, a normally closed switch in said brake signalcircuit, and means operatively connecting the rst normally open switchand the normally closed switch for actuation together, actuation of saidnormally closed switch from its normal condition serving to disconnectthe brake signal circuit from said lamps and actuation of said normallyopen switch in response thereto serving to ash both lampssimultaneously.

14. The invention set forth in claim 13 wherein the first normally openswitch and the normally closed switch comprise contacts of an electricalrelay.

15. The invention set forth in claim 13 wherein the first normally openswitch and the normally closed switch Iare manually operable.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,469,337 Sanborn Oct. 2, 1923 2,514,604 Hollins July 11, 1950 2,602,849Lawson July 8, 1952 2,771,525 Sivak Nov. 20, 1956 2,803,811 Turney Aug.20, 1957 2,829,213 Brett Apr. 1, 1958 2,835,880 Daws May 20, 1958

